ECHL teams sport 156 CJHL alumni, including 16 former NOJHLers

Photo: Joe Vrbetic – Indy Fuel (Chris Dawson)

TORONTO – The number of Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) alumni currently competing in the ECHL sits at 156.

All 29 ECHL clubs boast multiple alumnus of the CJHL on their rosters, while each of the nine member leagues feature former players competing.

This includes Spencer Kersten (Oakville Blades/OJHL) who was named ECHL rookie of the month for January.

Kersten is a member of the Orlando Solar Bears and presently paces all first-year skaters in the ECHL in both goals and points with 22 and 48 respectively in 46 games.

His overall numbers see him lead Orlando in scoring and share fifth place among all players in the league.

On the back end, Matt Register (Bonnyville Pontiacs/AJHL) is tied for top spot in offensive production among defencemen.

The Idaho Steelheads blueliner has registered 39 points in his 44 games played and leads all ECHL rearguards in assists with 34.

Meanwhile, between the pipes, Justen Close (Kindersley Klippers/SJHL) of the Jacksonville Icemen sits second among first-year netminders in goals-against average at 2.20 and is first in save percentage at .922.

His overall ECHL totals see him sixth-best in GAA and knotted for fifth with his save mark.

NOJHL ALUMNI – ECHL


PLAYER NAME POS. ECHL TEAM NOJHL TEAM(S)
Zach Bannister F Indy Fuel Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Nico Blachman F Iowa Heartlanders Cochrane Crunch
Parker Bowman F Rapid City Rush Powassan Voodoos
Robert Calisti D Reading Royals Soo Thunderbirds
Stephen Calisti D Toledo Walleye French River Rapids
Evan Cormier G Savannah Ghost Pirates North Bay Trappers
Tyson Gilmour F Maine Mariners Powassan Voodoos
Spencer Kennedy F Norfolk Admirals Blind River Beavers
Connor Lovie D Savannah Ghost Pirates Cochrane Crunch
Troy Murray D South Carolina Stingrays Blind River Beavers
Elliot Lake Wildcats
Drake Pilon F Kalamazoo Wings Soo Thunderbirds
Darian Pilon F Toledo Walleye Soo Thunderbirds
Dakota Seaman F Wheeling Nailers Blind River Beavers
Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Cochrane Crunch
Darian Skeoch D Adirondack Thunder North Bay Trappers
Greg Smith F Adirondack Thunder Soo Thunderbirds
Joe Vrbetic G Indy Fuel Powassan Voodoos

The following is the list of CJHL competing in the ECHL during the 2024-25 campaign:

CJHL ALUMNI: ECHL

2024-25 CJHL ALUMNI BY LEAGUE

NHL: 61
AHL: 71
ECHL: 156
NCAA D-I: 317
U SPORTS: 530

ABOUT THE CJHL: The Canadian Junior Hockey League is a national organization comprised of nine Junior A leagues from Alberta to the Maritimes. … The CJHL currently represents 118 teams and well over 2,500 players. … There were also 2,500-plus CJHL alumni who furthered their hockey careers at the NHL, AHL, ECHL, SPHL, NCAA, U SPORTS and CHL levels across North America as well as in leagues across Europe during the 2023-24 campaign. … For the latest CJHL news and features, visit cjhlhockey.com and follow-on social media at @cjhlhockey via X & Instagram.